Snap switch



H. G. BAXTER sNAP'swITcH Filed Aug, 5o, 1920 Patented Ang. 28, 1923i.

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HAROLD G. BAXTER, OF BALDWIN, NEW YORK. ASSIGNORTO-WESTNGHOUSE ELEC- TRIC @L MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF"PE NNSYLVANIA.

SNAP swrrcn,

Application led August 30, 1920. Serial No. 406,843.

tion to a Widebpen position, or vice versa,4

is rapid. l

ln snap switches of the ordinary type, the

' spring which throws the switch blades is placed under increasing tension until such tension is great enough to move the switch blades. By reason of the tact that the force of the spring is continually exerted on the blades during the movement ot the switch. lever, sometimesI the bladesr move before the full tension ot the spring is brought to bear. Such movement is likelyto be slow or intermittent', with the result that' arcing takes place between the blades andthe contacts.

By my construction.v the blades are held against'movement until the lever has been moved to its extreme position and the spring, consequently, placed under full tension. .This arrangement permits the full force ot the spring to be exerted on the blades at their starting position, where such force is most needed, and insures .a rapid and complete movement by the blades from the one to the other of its extreme positions. ln the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing- ,f Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the switch in closed position,lFig.-2 is al view taken at rig/ht angles toFig. 1, Fig. 3 is a-detail view ot the switch handle, and Fig. l is a detail view of the blade-carrying bracket, par tia-lly completed.

- The'switch is ofthe oscillatin type and is 'mounted on the usual insulating ase 3' which supports the terminals i and -5 connected to the contact members 6 and 7. Also mounted on the base 3, are the frame members- 8 on which are carried the moving parts of the switch.

A. pair of switch blades 9 are mounted on the shaft 10 .and "are insulated from each other either by suitable interposed insulation or by making their connecting members of non-conducting material. l

`Alsomountcd on the shaft 10. ig a spring 11 which, by pressing against opposite sides ot the blade bracket 12 alternately. causes the blades to oscillate as hereinafter de scribed. I

For the purpose of placing the spring 11 under tension, to operate the blades. l pro# vide a handle 13 having a bracket portion 14, the lower end of which abuts against one of the extensions ot the spring 'l1-depending upon the direction in which the' handle is being moved. The handle, is pivotally supported on the trame 8 by pins 21 that ex,- tend through the holes 21a; The 'movement of the handle-about the pivots 21 swings its lower end against one prong ot the spring 11 and causes the other prong of the spring to ahnt against the bladef bracket 12.I thus tending` 'to rotate-the blades. The handle. bracket 14 is slotted at 22 to allow passage ot the shaft 10 therethrough and to permit. movement of the handle on the pivots 21, without interference by the shaft. 10.

In the upper portion ot the handle bracket 14: is a U-shaped slot 15 registering with slots 16 in the tramemembers S. Extending through the slots 15 and 1G is ay pin 17 carryingthe toggle members 18 which are pivoted at 19 to the members 20'and have rigid connection with the bladesl ln Fig. L1. l showthe blade bracket 12 punched. ready for bending to the proper shape. The bracket isbent to the form illustrated in Fig. 2. The portions 12a are provided with holes 23a through which rivets 2 3 extend to secure the blade members 9 thereto, the rivets being insulated from the blade sure against the blade bracket 12. During the movement. thev bracket- 1'2 is prevented from rotating because the engagement of the pin 17 with the slot 15 holds the members 20 and toggles 18 againstv movement. When the movement ofthe handle is completed, the upwardly extending portion of the slot 15, at the' left hand side of the handlebracket, is in alinement with slots 16 of the frame members 8. The spring is then at its greatest tension, andthe pin 17 is thrown upwardly into slots 16, thus releasing the toggles 18 and allowing the spring to move the blades out ot' engagement with the contacts 6 and 7. The pivot 19 is moved to the extreine right and the pin 17 falls to its position of rest at the lower end of slot 16. The switch is then in position Jfor a closing movement in the reverse direction.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invent-ion:

1. In a switch of the class described, a

base, a frame mounted on the base and provided with a slot, a pair of contacts also mounted on the base, an oscillating switch blade pivoted in said frame, intermediate its ends, a spring for actuating said blade, a handle having a slot ot U-shape and means connected therewith to put said spring under tension and cause it to impart rotative movement to the blade, the slot in the switch trame being positioned to register with one of the extensions of the U-shaped slot when the handle is at either of its limits of movenient, a toggle member carried by the blade, and a pin 0n said toggle member having sliding engagement with the saidslots and preventing movement of the blade until one extension of the` U-shaped slot is in registry with the slot in the frame.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable Contact member, of a supporting frame therefor, a tension device for actuating the movable contact member, a handle lever for placing the movable contact member under tension, a toggle connection between the handle and the movable contact member and means on the handle for preventing lmovement of the movable contact member until the handle has reached a predetermined position.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with a movable conta-ctA member, of a supporting frame therefor, a tension device for actuating the movable contact member, a handle lever for placingthe movable contact member under tension, a link connection between the handle and the movable n In testlmony whereof, I have hereuntoY subscribed my fname this eleventh day of August, 1920. I

HAROLD G. BAXTER. 

